Baytown

Other groups can still sign up, but may not be guaranteed their special guest of choice. For information, call officer Ken Terry or Becky Luckey at 281-422-5152, e-mail rebecca.luckey
@baytown.org, or visit the Web site www.baytown.org.

Galena Park

National Night Out has not captured widespread public interest in Galena Park as it has in some other communities, said Police Chief
Robert Pruett
.

One reason may be that the community has many senior citizens, who don't like to get out at night, especially in hot weather, the chief said.

Another factor might be the competition of the police department's Halloween party.

It draws 3,000-4,000 children and their parents each year. The popular event includes an open house at the police station.

Despite the low participation level for National Night Out, Pruett said the city's electronic marquee will carry an announcement about it.

"We will participate as much as we can get the community to participate," Pruett said. "We encourage them to meet their neighbors."

The parties will be the traditional mix of kids' activities, visits from police officers and neighbors meeting neighbors.

Jacinto City residents have taken seriously their role of being extra eyes and ears for the police, Ayala said.

"They've helped us by locating an aggravated robbery suspect in a shed, and even chasing down a suspect and holding them until we got there," he said. "We really appreciate that. In these times, people are afraid to call the police, but the only way we're going to get the job done is having the community involved."

Pasadena

"It's still a little early," Payne said Friday. "I had two call me today."

As in years past, one of the larger gatherings will be the party hosted by the department's resident Officer L. Garcia, who lives in the North Side neighborhood of Red Bluff Terrace. The gathering in the 400 block of Delta next to Red Bluff Park, which has previously drawn about 300 people, will include free food and entertainment.

South Houston

Now in its fifth year, the Guns and Nozzles softball game between the
South Houston Police Department
and the city's volunteer fire department is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the boy's senior baseball field, 900 Avenue I. Police Chief
Herbert Gilbert
said the event will have the same format, with free hot dogs and beverages, and the same friendly rivalry.

"The fire department has won two years in a row, I think," he said. "We need to step it up a bit."